Scaffolding at the Brandenburg Gate for cleaning after paint attack
Scaffolding has been erected at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin for further cleaning work following the paint attack by climate activists. The erection of the scaffolding on the east side of the gate began on Monday and continued on Tuesday. Orange paint is still clearly visible on the sandstone columns, which has not yet been removed.
On September 17, the Last Generation group sprayed paint on six pillars of the gate. The police subsequently arrested 14 climate activists.
Work will cost at least 115,000 euros
An initial cleaning with hot water from high-pressure jets did not work. Contrary to what the climate activists claimed, the paint is not very water-soluble. The sandstone of the gate is relatively coarse-grained and porous and absorbed both the paint and the water.
Now a kind of paste is to be applied, which can first be absorbed and then washed off. The process may have to be repeated several times, said Birgit Möhring, Managing Director of Berliner Immobilienmanagement GmbH (BIM). The cleaning could take several weeks.
In total, the work is expected to cost at least 115,000 euros, perhaps even more. Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) had confirmed that attempts would be made to recover the money from the climate protection group Letzte Generation and the polluters.
Amidst the ongoing clean-up efforts, there have been demonstrations near the Brandenburg Gate, voicing concerns over the climate crisis and the paint attack. The protests have resulted in minor skirmishes with police, adding to the tension in the area.
Regrettably, crimes of vandalism continue to persist, as seen by the climate activists' paint attack on the renowned Monuments like the Brandenburg Gate. This incident highlights the need for stricter measures to protect cultural heritage from such acts.
Source: www.dpa.com
